Martinborough is the most prominent of the three Wairarapa sub-regions. Small in size, but big in character, it is home to around 30 wineries that are mostly family owned. The wineries are within walking distance from Martinborough’s picturesque colonial town centre.

Despite the fact that Martinborough has only three percent of all of New Zealand's vineyard land, it is still widely considered to be one of the country's prime wine regions.

Its claim to fame is the exceptional quality of its Pinot Noir wines, produced by some of the most highly regarded wineries in New Zealand.The style of this wine is regarded to be more complex than its counterparts from Central Otago. Pinot Noir therefore dominates plantations of the area, with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay also popular.